CURLEWS THROUGH FALCONS

Just the eleventh occurrence for the state, a Long-billed Curlew was photographed at Bald Knob N.W.R, White Co 12 Sep (Donna, Adam, & Lincoln Haynes). Rare in fall, a Red-necked Phalarope was at Boyd Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jefferson Co 23 Oct (Michael Linz, Patty McLean). Rare but annual, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull was at Lake Dardanelle, Pope Co 5 Oct (Kenny Nichols). Rare in any season, a Laughing Gull was at Bald Knob NWR, White Co 20 Oct (Michael Linz, Patty McLean). Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls photographed west of England, Lonoke Co 27 Oct were a first for the county (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Rare loons for the season included a Red-throated Loon on Lake Dardanelle, Pope Co 1 Nov (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols) and a Pacific Loon on Lake Maumelle, Pulaski Co 8 Nov (Ragan Sutterfield).

Thirteen White-faced Ibis were counted near Grand Lake, Chicot Co 10 Oct (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols); one was observed near Centerton, Benton Co 1 Oct (Vivek Govind Kumar) which is a rare occurrence for the Ozarks. One of the highest counts ever recorded in the state, 47 Roseate Spoonbills were tallied near Grand Lake, Chico Co 10 Oct (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Rare but annual, a Swallow-tailed Kite south of Berryville 26 Aug was a first for Carroll Co (Tina Cone, Judy Griffith, Don Matt, Vivek Govind Kumar); another was photographed near Jacksonville, Pulaski Co 6 Sep (Cindy Franklin, Bill Burnham). Lone Northern “Red-shafted” Flickers were near Alma, Crawford Co 21 Nov (Vivek Govind Kumar) and Woolsey Wet Prairie, Washington Co 7 Oct (Vivek Govind Kumar). The only Peregrine Falcon report was an individual near Grand Lake Chico Co, 10 Oct (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols). Rare and nearly annual, a Prairie Falcon seen 5 Nov near Cherokee Park, Conway Co (Ron Duvall) was most likely the same bird seen at Atkins Bottoms, Pope Co the same day (Kenny & LaDonna Nichols).

FLYCATCHERS THROUGH JUNCOS

Undoubtedly, the bird of the season was a Fork-tailed Flycatcher found in rural Desha Co about 10 miles north of Arkansas City 16 Nov (Dick Baxter). Just the second ever for the state, it was enjoyed by dozens of birders before being last seen 27 Dec. Incredibly, there were four Say’s Phoebe reports for the season: one near Beaverfork Lake, 14 Sep was a first for Faulkner Co (Michael Linz, Patty McLean); one photographed 13 Oct at Crosses was a first for Madison Co (Brenda Nazarali); one near Alicia 14 Nov was a first for Lawrence Co (Terence & Jamie Teel); and one photographed at Gum Springs, Clark Co 17 Nov (Evelyn Good). Rare in migration, a Sprague’s Pipit found 17 Oct at Bell Slough WMA was just the second for Faulkner Co (Michael Linz, Patty McLean, Cody Massery, Allan Mueller). An Evening Grosbeak photographed 20 Nov at Mena, Polk Co was the first for the state in nearly 20 years and the first of multiple winter reports (Ruth & David Wiebe, m. ob.). A flyover Red Crossbill was heard 2 Nov at Ninestone Land Trust, Carroll Co (Vivek Govind Kumar). A Pine Siskin at Fannie, Montgomery Co 31 Aug was early by two months (William Burton III). Rare but annual, a female Spotted Towhee was at Fayetteville, Washington Co 17 Nov (Vivek Govind Kumar). Rare transient Clay-colored Sparrows were at Beaver Lake, Benton Co Oct (Vivek Govind Kumar), Little Rock, Pulaski Co 13–24 Oct (Dan & Samantha Scheiman) while two at Lake Saracen 26 Oct were a first for Jefferson Co (Michael Linz, Patty McLean). Rarely detected in migration, Nelson’s Sparrows were at Bell Slough WMA, Faulkner Co 17 Oct (Michael Linz, Patty McLean, Steve Warmack, Randy Robinson, Charles Mills, Anna Jetter) and near Alma, Crawford Co 3 Nov (Vivek Govind Kumar). Early by over two months, a Dark-eyed Junco was photographed at Springdale, Washington Co 9 Aug (Mignonne Scarbrough).

ORIOLES THROUGH DICKCISSELS

Exceptionally late Baltimore Orioles were at Russellville, Pope Co 25 Nov (Kristen Taylor) and the next day at Sherwood, Pulaski Co (Christopher Gilbert). Late warblers included a Tennessee Warbler 22 Nov at Little Rock, Pulaski Co (Dan Scheiman) and a Nashville Warbler at the same location, 10 Nov (Dan Scheiman); another Nashville was at Fayetteville, Washington Co 8 Nov (Vivek Govind Kumar). Very rare in fall, a Black-throated Blue Warbler was near Beaverfork Lake, Faulkner Co 1 Sep (Michael Linz, Patty McLean). An exceptionally late Scarlet Tanager was observed at a feeder in Little Rock, Pulaski 29 Nov (Karen Delavan). Latest ever by a full month and the first ever for November, a Blue Grosbeak was at Lake June, Lafayette Co 26 Nov (Devin & Jennifer Moon). Incredibly, another was seen the next day near Dardanelle, Yell Co (Araks Ohanyan). A Painted Bunting at Craig State Fish Hatchery, Benton Co 18 Oct was late by nearly 3 weeks (Adam Schaffer). Late Dickcissels were at Bald Knob NWR, White Co 5 Nov (Glenn & Michelle Wyatt) and Fayetteville, Washington Co 7 Nov (Vivek Govind Kumar).

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 30 Jan 2023.